Canada Plans More Measures to Reduce Temporary Residents

By Rose McReid

Cover Image Attribute: Indian protesters in Canada are calling for an extension of work permits and a reassessment of recent immigration policy changes. / Source: X/protest_pei

The Canadian government is set to introduce several measures aimed at restricting temporary immigration, with no immediate plans to implement a widespread program granting status to undocumented residents, the immigration minister revealed to Reuters. "The time of unrestricted immigration programs is swiftly concluding. This represents a significant change. You can't just abruptly halt and expect an instant stop," Marc Miller stated in an interview with Reuters on Thursday. 
Canada has traditionally taken pride in its welcoming approach to newcomers, and the current Liberal government has significantly boosted the number of new residents, particularly temporary ones, as employers faced challenges filling positions post-pandemic. However, in the past year, the sentiment has shifted: immigrants are now being blamed for exacerbating the housing crisis and affordability issues in the country. Critics argue that the federal government has admitted too many people.
A Leger poll from July revealed that 60% of respondents believe Canada is admitting too many immigrants. "I'm not naive enough to think Canada is immune to anti-immigrant sentiment. Canadians want a system that isn't out of control," Miller said in a phone interview. He added that Canadians "want a system that makes sense, one that retains the welcoming aspects we're proud of, but is also sensible." Miller anticipated that immigration would be "a top issue, if not the top issue, in the next election," expected in late 2025.
The Canadian government has already introduced certain measures. In January, it announced a two-year cap on international students, as this part of the immigration system had become "overheated" and was not intended to serve as "a backdoor entry into Canada," Miller stated. In March, the immigration minister announced the first-ever cap on temporary immigration. Canada aims to reduce the number of temporary residents to 5% of the total population over the next three years, down from 6.2% in 2023. This would mean a reduction of about 20% from the 2.5 million temporary residents in 2023.
In its recent monetary policy report, the Bank of Canada expressed skepticism about the government's ability to achieve its temporary residents goal. The report noted that as of April, non-permanent residents made up 6.8% of the population, and this share is expected to rise in the near term. While acknowledging the challenge, Miller described the goal as "reasonable" given the upcoming measures Canada plans to announce in the coming weeks.
Miller did not provide specifics but hinted that these measures might involve changes to post-graduate work permits and enforcement. When asked if the government had erred in allowing the rapid increase in temporary residents, Miller acknowledged that "every government makes mistakes" and noted that coming out of COVID, the country faced significant labor shortages.

Canada is experiencing record numbers of refugee claims, with over 18,000 in June, according to the Immigration and Refugee Board. This surge persists despite government efforts to deter asylum-seekers by closing the land border through a contentious agreement with the United States and imposing new visa requirements for Mexicans. While Canada cannot control the number of refugee claims, it can make it harder for asylum-seekers to reach the country. Miller mentioned that the government might enforce stricter criteria on temporary resident visas to limit asylum-seekers' entry.
The government had previously considered a program to grant status to undocumented residents. However, Miller stated that this is not an option before the election, though sector-specific programs might still be possible.
With reporting by Reuters
About the Author:
Rose McReid, Associate Partner (Editorial) at IndraStra Global, Reporting from the Heart of New York. 

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